Television is the great modern media source. Despite rising threats to its spot at the top, television ultimately reigns supreme. A broad medium, television includes some shows that allow insight into the lives of people like the Kardashians, as well as others which keep viewers on the edge of their seats with each passing episode. However, there is an entire sub-genre of programming that sometimes get far less recognition than it deserves. Political TV shows can give non-politician viewers a look into the nitty gritty reality of American government, making them useful for anyone to watch. Therefore, if this has convinced you to delve into the world of political television, or if you have and are looking for more content to consume, allow me to reveal to you some of the best shows for you to add to your Netflix queue. (Note: These are in no particular order of preference/credibility/etc.)
The West Wing
Originally aired from 1999-2006, The West Wing details the everyday lives of some of the members of President Jed Bartlet's senior staff. It takes a far lighter approach to hardcore Washington operations, even sometimes drifting more into comedy than drama. However, the ups and downs of political maneuvering are still there, and viewers would not be surprised to see similar occurences on both the news and the show.
Scandal
A TV show would be chaotic enough should its plot be based around the President of the United States having an affair with his former Director of Communications. However, what happens when said former Director of Communications is now an incredibly powerful political operative that miraculously makes the problems of DC’s top politicians disappear? This section of Shonda Rhimes’s TGIT (or Thank God It’s Thursday) drama trifecta certainly earns its name, and those that desire to combine politics and romance will not be disappointed in viewing it.
Political Animals
Though only sporting one mini-series of 6 episodes, this show goes hard from start to finish. It follows a female Secretary of State with an estranged ex-husband, so it would not be difficult to draw parallels between this couple and the Clintons. Nonetheless, this show leaves viewers wanting more, and though USA unfortunately cancelled any future episodes back in 2012, it’s a good show to watch for a quick dose of political-based drama.
Madam Secretary
Another show that stars a woman playing the coveted role of Secretary of State is CBS’s Madam Secretary. Tea Leoni and Tim Daly play the leading couple here, and it differs from Political Animals in that the two have a happy marriage, furthered by the real-life romance between the two co-stars. Though the show has been criticized for being inaccurate in portraying Washington, it goes deeper in showing how such a publicly prominent lifestyle can affect a whole family’s life and interactions with each other.
House of Cards
Arguably one of the most famous political shows, this Netflix Original makes all of the aforementioned dramas look like cakewalks. Kevin Spacey plays Senate Majority Whip Francis Underwood, a true politician that uses cutthroat tactics to get what he wants. This show is more intense than any one I have ever seen, sometimes leaving me unable to do anything but stare in shock and keep watching. And, if we’re being honest, I still think the last shot of season 2 is one of the greatest things ever filmed.
Political television has the ability to pull people towards Washington or push them far away. Though not always perfectly realistic, this sub-genre of entertainment can still give viewers a picture of all of the factors that go into running their country. And while it may get dirty sometimes, as the saying goes, that’s politics, baby.
